Bulldogs edge past Hounds

December 3, 2010

Karl Terry

PORTALES — After leading Southwestern Oklahoma State University by double-digit margins throughout the first half the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds fell asleep early in the second half and dropped its first Lone Star Conference crossover tilt 77-75 on Thursday night at Greyhound Arena.

The Greyhounds (3-3) woke from their slumber late in the game and after trailing by 11 points at the 10-minute mark cut the Bulldog lead to 76-75 with eight seconds to play after junior forward Max Carrier sank a pair of clutch free throws.

The Hounds fouled senior Ross Moore on the in-bounds play and the Bartlesville, Okla. native managed to sink the front end but missed the second to give ENMU one last chance. Freshman Michael Maya got a potential buzzer-beater off in time but it struck the front of the iron and ended the Hounds home winning streak at two games.

“We had a stretch there where we just didn’t play very good,” second-year ENMU coach Andrew Helton said. “We turned the basketball over — 22 turnovers that was definitely a key to the game. Anything under 15 (turnovers) and we’re all right.”

While Southwestern (6-2) never led until the 12:21 mark of the second half, turnovers were key in allowing them to grab a lead and build it to a 10-point margin in just over two minutes.

Helton said he felt good about the offense from Carrier, Aaron Edwards and Tyler Jefferson generated inside against a bigger team of mostly seniors. Carrier ended up with a double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds while Edwards added 10 points and Jefferson nine.